The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-04-19
A Frenchy Story.

n FTcncny SUOry.
M. Maxine du Camp tells lis in his
souvenirs Litteraires," that when he
and Gustave Flaubert were crossing
the Egyptian desert in the course Of
their Eastern tour, the accidental fall
OF the camel which bore the water sup
ply OF the party shattered the earthen
vessel which held it, and suddenly de-
prived the travellers OF their entire
provision OF the precious fluid. The
accident happened at 8 o'clock on a
Thursday evening, and the guides in
formed them that the nearest well
could not possibly be reached before
the afternoon OF the Sunday following.
The prospect OF having to pass some
20 hours in the Nubian desert, under
burning sun, without a drop of wa
ter, was not the most agreeable one;
but as beyond the discomfort there
was nothing to apprehend, the young
men easily summoned up courage to
meet it, and continued their journey.
with n stout heart.
Their sufferings were comparatively
slight the first day. At 4 o'clock on
Saturday morning, after Il feverlsh
night, they started to face the worst
day OF the three, for though their suf-
ferings from thirst would doubtless
be greater the next day, thenear pros
pect OF relief would render them more
supportable. As they mounted their
camels they consoled themselves with
the reflection to which Damiens gave
utterance on the morning Of his eXecu-
ton: "That day will be trying one,
but it will come to an end"
At about s O'Clock, when the suns
rays had already begun to give the
thirsty travellers foretaste OF their
meridian power, Flaubert suddenly
asked his companion ii he remember.
ed the lemon ices they used to eat at
Tortoni's. A nod was the only an
swer vouchsafed to this singuarly ILL.,
timed question.
"Come, now" Flaubert went on,
"you would not be offended if any one
were to offer you q lemon ice now.
All! lemon icesl have you noticed how
the glass IN which one is served gets
covered with beads OF dew on hot
day"
Suppose we change the subject"
said his friend, hardly able to articu-
late, so furred and swollen was his
tongue.
CAS- you please" replied Flubert;
"still lemon ice is u. thing which one
could not easily say too much in the
way OF praise. You take spoonful
and crush it gently between the tongue
and palate. 1t melts slowly, refresh
ingly, deliciously, bathing the parched
mouth. You swallow it, and the
whole system seems to smile with
Decidedly the absence
OF lemon ices is a serious objection to
the desert"
Once Flaubert got a morbid fancy
OF this sort into his head there was no
driving it out, and no preventing his
tongue from running upon it, And so
he went on singing the praises oflemon
ices, till his friend not merely lost pa
thence, but became ownright savage
and vicious.
"Gustave," he said to him, sternly,
"take your choice; ride ahead or fol-
low in the rear, but let us put 200
yards between us as soon as possible.
1t will be the best and safest for us
both"
They rode apart thenceforward, and
did not exchange word till they
reached well, which they did at 4
o'clock next day. No sooner had
they Stacked their thirst than Flau-
bert threw himself into his friends
arms.
"Thanks," he said, 'for not having
murdered me; / should have done so
had ! been in your place"